Bill Text: PA HR404 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizing the week of September 20 through 26, 2009, as "Low-Back Pain Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania, providing for its observance and urging the Department of Public Welfare to establish a task force.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 30-16)

Status: (Passed) 2009-09-16 - Adopted [HR404 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR404-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2422
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 404 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY BARRAR, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, CIVERA, D. COSTA, CUTLER, DELOZIER, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEIST, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRELL, HARHART, HELM, HENNESSEY, HICKERNELL, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MILLARD, MURT, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PYLE, QUINN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, SIPTROTH, STABACK, SWANGER, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATERS AND YOUNGBLOOD, JULY 10, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, JULY 10, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the week of September 20 through 26, 2009, as "Low-
Back Pain Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania, providing for its
observance and urging the Department of Public Welfare to
establish a task force.
WHEREAS, Thirty-one million Americans have low-back pain at
any given time, and one-half of all working Americans admit to
having low-back pain symptoms each year; and
WHEREAS, One-third of all Americans 18 years of age and older
had a back problem in the past five years severe enough for them
to seek professional help; and
WHEREAS, The cost of treating low-back pain is estimated to
be a staggering $50 billion yearly; and
WHEREAS, Studies suggest that people in pain are at high risk
for depression; and
WHEREAS, Sixty-five billion dollars are lost in annual wages
due to low-back pain in the United States; and
WHEREAS, In 2001, 13,707,000 Americans visited a physician's
office primarily for back pain; and
WHEREAS, Low-back pain is the second most symptom-related
reason for doctor visits; and
WHEREAS, Low-back pain can be better managed by employing
disease management protocols similar to those developed for
diabetes, chronic heart disease and high blood pressure;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
week of September 20 through 26, 2009, as "Low-Back Pain
Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania and call upon all citizens of
Pennsylvania to observe this week by participating in
appropriate activities to raise awareness of low-back pain and
by learning how to improve the quality of life for people in
this Commonwealth suffering from low-back pain; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Department of Public Welfare be urged to
establish a low-back pain task force to investigate and
implement low-back pain management guidelines for Medicaid
recipients; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the Secretary of Public Welfare, the Secretary of Health, the
Insurance Commissioner and the Secretary of Labor and Industry.
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